Related: Meteorologists predict hot, stormy summer

    BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- More extreme climatic events are expected to hit China in the impending flood season which starts in June, according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).

    More typhoons from the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea will strike China this year, said Qin Dahe, Director of the CMA.

    China's main flood season usually lasts from June to August. Eight typhoons had a devastating impact on China last year and a flood drowned 105 primary school students in Shalan Town in Ning'an, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

    According to the forecast, the rain belt will remain mainly in the areas between the southern parts of north China and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China's longest river. The rainfall amount well above average in most parts of south and southwest China and middle and western parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

    Meanwhile, China reported approximately 22.5 million hectares of drought-hit areas including more than 4.9 million hectares of farmland in provinces and regions like Gansu, Hebei, Yunnan, Sichuan and Guangxi, according to the CMA figures updated on April28.

    The task of fighting against floods and relieving droughts is particularly severe this year. Qin said, calling on meteorologists and forecasters around the country to work harder still in preparing for the incoming flood season and provide scientific and timely services on monitoring, forecast and emergency measures. Enditem